April 25, 2014
Reno, Nev. - The University of Nevada scored six runs in the fourth inning to defeat the San José State University softball team, 10-1, in a five-inning Mountain West game on Friday.
The Wolf Pack got on the board early with a two-out, three-run homer in the opening frame. The long ball sailed well past the left field fence to give Nevada (22-22, 4-12 MW) a 3-0 lead.
The Wolf Pack plated a fourth runner in the following inning off of a triple to deep right field for the 4-0 advantage.
The Spartans (25-21, 8-8 MW) cut the lead in the top of the third, thanks to Devin Caldwell's first career home run. She rocketed the ball into right field and sprinted around the bases for the rare inside-the-park homer, making the score 4-1.
But the Wolf Pack's bats caught fire in the fourth inning. They scored six runs off of as many hits, including a pair of two-RBI singles, for the 10-1 score.
San José State generated a scoring opportunity in the top of the fifth. Pinch hitters Jessie Meyer and Chelsea Jenner led off with consecutive singles. Colette Riggs, also pinch hitting, reached on a fielder's choice in the next at bat, moving Meyer to third. But a pop-up and ground out ended the threat, and the game for the five-inning, 10-1 run rule decision.
Madison Fish's record fell to 8-5. In 3.1 innings of work, she scattered eight hits and allowed six earned runs with two strikeouts. Allison Lang and Katelyn Linford combined for three hits and three earned runs allowed, fanning one batter and walking two, in 0.2 innings in relief.
Caldwell, Jessica Garcia, Meyer and Jenner each had one hit for the Spartans.
San José State and Nevada continue their Mountain West series tomorrow with a 1:00 p.m. game.